Escapement mechanism for use with inclined track of automatic feeding apparatus



1963 s. s. AIDLIN ETAL 3,

ESCAPEMENT MECHANISM FOR USE WITH INCLINED TRACK OF AUTOMATIC FEEDING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 26. 1960 INV EN TORS 5amue/ 5. H/d/fn Ern/m H Sch/'mA az United States Patent 3,105,610 ESCAPEMENT MECHANISM FOR USE WITH INCLIYED TRACK 0F AUTGMATEC FEED- ING APPARATUS Samuel S. Aidlin and Erwin H. Schimhat, New York,

N.Y., assignors, by mesne assignments, to Samuel Aidlin, Brooklyn, N.Y.

Filed Aug. 26, 1960, Ser. No. 52,110 7 Claims. (Cl. 22119) The present invention relates to an escapement mechanism, and more particularly to an escapement mechanism especially adapted for use with automatic article-feeding equipment, such as include a rotary or vibratory hopper and a sloping track leading from the hopper, such as are generally used for the feeding of articles or elements of articles, one at a time, to a point of assembly or processing, to regulate the rate of feeding of such elements or articles, generally in synchronization with other steps in the assembly or processing procedure.

In the automatic hopper feeding of articles or elements, as to a point of assembly or processing, it is generally required that such articles be presented, one at a time, at regulated intervals, in synchronization with other movements in the assembly or processing apparatus, for which purpose automatic esoapement means, controlled from a remote point in the apparatus and synchronized with such other movements, is generally required.

It is the object of the present invention to provide an escapement mechanism of the character and for the purpose described which is of relatively simple construction and simple and easy to control and regulate, either electrically or pneumatically.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an escapement mechanism of the character and for the purpose described, which is composed of few but sturdy movable parts and which is strong and durable and substantially foolproof and will require a minimum of attention and maintenance care.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide an escapement mechanism of the character described which is highly accurate in its operation.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an escapement mechanism of the character described which may be easily and readily modified and adapted to regulate the feeding of articles of various shapes and sizes.

It is still a further object of the present invention to provide an escapement mechanism of the character described which is simple and easy to install.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages of the escapement mechanism of the present invention will become more readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the embodiment thereof shown in the accompanying drawings, and from the description following. It is to be understood, however, that such embodiment is shown by way of illustration only, to make the principles and practices of the invention more readily comprehensible, and Without any intent of limiting the invention to the specific details therein shown.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary view, in side elevation of one embodiment of an escapemen-t mechanism of the present invention, shown as associated with a downwardly sloping feeding track and as connected to a remotely controlled reciprocating solenoid; the escapement fingers shown in an intermediate or article-trapping stage;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary, side elevational view, on an enlarged scale, of the apparatus of FIG. 1, with the mechanism shown in the position in which an article has just been released;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to that of FIG. 2, with the 3,ld5,filb Patented Get. 1, 1963 mechanism shown in the position readying the next article for releasing;

FIG. 4 is a view taken on line 4-4 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary view showing modified forms of escapement fingers for the mechanism.

Generally stated, the escapement mechanism of the invention utilizes a freely-rotating pinion on the opposite sides of which are supported, in meshing relation therewith and parallel with one another, a pair of racks each one of which carries a finger, between which fingers an element moving on a track is trapped for release, as the fingers are alternately moved into and out of the track; one of the racks having an extension on its opposite end engageable on a reciprocable mechanism such as the piston of a pneumatic cylinder or the core of a solenoid, for reciprocal movement; which movement is inversely transmitted by the pinion to the other rack so that the racks move at all times in opposed directions.

More specifically stated, the escapement of the invention illustrated in the drawings is shown to comprise a body or block 103 preferably of metal, in a surface of which is formed a channel 12., of rectangular cross-section, having parallel side Walls 14, spaced by a bottom wall 16. A pinion 18, is freely rotatably mounted on a pin 20, set into the bottom wall 16 of the channel 12,. The pinion 18 is spaced from both side Walls 14 and racks 22 and 24, are disposed within the channel 12, one to each side of the pinion, each of which is slidably held against and is guided by a side wall 14 an held thereby in meshing engagement with the pinion 18.

Means may be provided for maintaining the racks 2-2 and 24 for movement in parallel paths within the channel 12. While any suitable means, a number of which will readily suggest themselves to any one skilled in the art, may be used for the purpose, a preferable form of such spacing and guiding means may comprise a second pinion 26, that is also freely rotatably mounted on a pin 28, set into the wall 16, with which second pinion the racks 22 and 24 also mesh.

The two racks 22 and 24 are each provided, at their corresponding ends, with a longitudinally extending finger, generally designated as 30 and 32;, respectively; each such finger consisting of a stem portion 34, by which it is removably securable to the end of its supporting rack, as by a screw 36, and a projecting, preferably tapered end portion 38. The finger supporting end of each of racks 22 and 24- may also be provided with stop means, such as a plate or washer 40, which may be supported on the screw 36, that will engage against a marginal edge portion of a side of the channel 12, to inhibit the movement of the finger-supporting crack ends into the channel.

One of the racks, as 22, may be provided at its other end with an extension '42,, which is engageable on the end of a reciprocable member such as a core 44, of a solenoid 46, that may be mounted on the same supporting memher, as the upright plate 48, with the block or body 10. It may be here stated, however, that instead of a solenoid a pneumatic cylinder may be used and the rack extension 42, may be connected to the end of the piston of said cylinder. Whether a solenoid or pneumatic cylinder and piston are used, these may be operated and controlled electrically or otherwise, automatically or otherwise, from a remote point in an apparatus in which the escapement is used, in synchronization with other mechanisms and mechanical movements of such apparatus, in a manner that will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art.

The supporting member 48, for the body 10, and the rack reciprocating solenoid 46, or the like, may be supported adjacent a sloping track 50, the upper end of which may be lead to a hopper or other mechanism for supplying elements 52, on the track 50, which elements d 52am gravity-fed on the track to the point of use; the escapement mechanism being so disposed that when one of its racks is withdrawn into the channel 12 to the limit permitted by the washer 20, the end of the finger of the other of the racks will extend into the track in position to have an element 52 descending on the track abut against it.

It will be apparent that as the rack 2-2 is moved in one direction, as outwardly of the track 59, it will actuate the pinions 13 and 26 to move the other of the racks into the track 50. It will also be apparent that when the ends of the fingers 3t and 32 are spaced a distance equal to the longitudinal dimensions of an element 52 on the track 56, such element will be trapped and accommodated between the ends of the fingers when they are both in partly-withdrawn position from the track, as indicated in FIG. 1 of the drawing. It will thus be clear that when the rack 22 and its finger 39 are withdrawn from the track, the finger 32 of the other racks 24 will extend fully into the track, tohave the lowermost of the elements rest against it, to be prevented from further movement on the track, as shown in FIG. 3 of the drawing.

As the rack 22 is moved toward the track 50, its finger 39, will engage between the lowermost of the elements 52 and the one immediately above it, to inhibit the movement of the last-mentioned element before the finger 32 is moved out of abutment with such lowermost of the elements, as clearly shown in FIG. 1 of the drawing. The continued movement of the rack 22 and its finger =30 into the track will remove the finger 32; from the track, to release the lowermost element 52, for continued movement down the track to the intended position.

While the mechanism for moving the rack 22, such as the solenoid 45, may be a double-acting solenoid that will positively reciprocate the rack .22 in both directions, it may, if desired, be a single-action solenoid that will move the rack 22 in only one direction, as away from the track as illustrated, its movement inwardly thereinto being ef-' fected by a spring 56, one end of which is connected to a pin 55, extending laterally from the solenoid core 44, and its other end anchored on a pin 60 which may be fixed in position as on the body Hi.

The escapement mechanism of the present invention may be readily adapted for regulating the movement of articles of various sizes. This may be accomplished by eplacing the straight fingens, such as 3%} and 32, illustrated in FIGURES l to 4, of the drawings, with fingers 139 and 132, as illustrated in FIGURE 5, of the drawlugs, wherein each one of both of the fingers may have its stern portion 134-, by which it is connected to the rack laterally offset relative to the lower or tapered portion 136, of the finger. It will be readily apparent that by securing a finger, such as shown in FIGURE 5, to one of the racks, as 22 or 24, by its stern 134, to the inner face of the rack, or to its outer face, with the shoulder 13), outwardly directed, the space between the end portions 136 of the fingers may be increased, for use with articles of larger dimension; whereas, if such fingers are secured with the shoulders 139, inwardly directed, the space between the fingers may be reduced for use with articles of smaller dimension.

A cover 62, for the channel 12. may be secured to the block it) to maintain the racks within the channel. Preferably, such cover may be of a transparent material, such as acrylic plastic, that will render the mechanism visible to the operator.

This completes the description of the escapement mechanism of the present invention. it will be readily apparent that such mechanism consists of a minimum of rugged parts that are directly and positively operated and will, therefore, operate continuously without any likelihood of going out of order, so as to require a minimum of care and attention. it will also be apparent that such escape-ment mechanism may be economically produced from standard and readily available parts and quickly and easily and economically assembled and installed for operation. it will be additionally apparent that the escapement mechanism of the present invention may be readily modified by means of easily interchangeable fingers for use in the regulation of the feeding of articles of varying dimensions.

It will be further apparent that numerous modifications and variations in the escapement mechanism of the present invention may be made by any one skilled in the art, in accordance with the principles of the invention hereinabove set forth and without the exercise of any inventive ingenuity. We desire, therefore, to be protected for any and all such modifications and variations that may be made within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the claims hereto appended.

What we claim is:

1. The combination with an inclined channel track of an automatic article feeding apparatus, of an escapement for the regulated feeding of the articles from the track, comprising, a body supported above the track, said body having a channel of substantially rectangular crosssection formed therein, said channel including spaced, opposed, parallel walls and a connecting wall, said connecting wall disposed in a substantially vertical plane substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the track and said opposed walls substantially normal to the plane of said track; a pinion freely rotatably supported on said connecting wall in spaced relation to said opposed walls, a rack meshing with said pinion disposed between said pinion and each of said opposed walls, means guiding said racks for movement in parallel paths normal to the plane of said track, each said rack having an end portion projecting from said channel in the direction of said track, a finger connected to each of sad projecting rack ends and arranged for reciprocation into and out of said channel track, one of said racks having means at its other end engage-able for reciprocal movement thereof, and means 3. The combination of claim 1, including a device having an axially reciproeable rod and controllable from a remote point to move said rod in at least one direction, said rod connected to the other end of said one rack and in alinement therewith, and means moving said rod in the opposed direction.

4. The combination of claim 1, including a device hav-' ing an axially reciprocable rod and controllable from a remote point to move said rod in one direction, said rod connected to the other end of said one rack and inalinemerit therewith, and means moving said rod in the 0pposed direction comprising a coil spring connected to said rod by one end thereof and to said body by its other end.

5. The combination of claim 1, wherein said projecting rack ends are of substantially rectangular cross section with two or". their sides disposed substantially parallel to said opposed channel Walls and said fingers are of sub stantially rectangular cross-section and are connected by an end portion to said racks and have opposed sides of its other end portion gradually convergent to form a relatively sharp end edge, said fingers each readily removably secured to one of said two faces of said rack end with one of said opposed sides thereof parallel to one of said opposed sides of said channel.

6. The combination of claim 5, wherein said end por:

tion of each said finger secured to a rack is offset relalive to and substantially parallel to the other end thereof. 7. The combination of claim 1, wherein each said finger is secured by one end to said rack projection and said r' lw References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Peck Nov. 13, 1917 Stone Mar. 22, 1921 6 McClellan Dec. 9, 1924 Nichols May 11, 1926 Norman et a1 Oct. 3, 1944 Riise Sept. 23, 1952 Kramer Dec. 2, 1952 Johanson Apr. 8, 1958 Kottas June 23, 1959 

1. THE COMBINATION WITH AN INCLINED CHANNEL TRACK OF AN AUTOMATIC ARTICLE FEEDING APPARATUS, OF AN ESCAPEMENT FOR THE REGULATED FEEDING OF THE ARTICLES FROM THE TRACK, COMPRISING, A BODY SUPPORTED ABOVE THE TRACK, SAID BODY HAVING A CHANNEL OF SUBSTANTIALLY RECTANGULAR CROSSSECTION FORMED THEREIN, SAID CHANNEL INCLUDING SPACED, OPPOSED, PARALLEL WALLS AND A CONNECTING WALL, SAID CONNECTING WALL DISPOSED IN A SUBSTANTIALLY VERTICAL PLANE SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL TO THE LONGITUDINAL AXIS OF THE TRACK AND SAID OPPOSED WALLS SUBSTANTIALLY NORMAL TO THE PLANE OF SAID TRACK; A PINION FREELY ROTATABLY SUPPORTED ON SAID CONNECTING WALL IN SPACED RELATION TO SAID OPPOSED WALLS, A RACK MESHING WITH SAID PINION DISPOSED BETWEEN SAID PINION AND EACH OF SAID OPPOSED WALLS, MEANS GUIDING SAID RACKS FOR MOVEMENT IN PARALLEL PATHS NORMAL TO THE PLANE OF SAID TRACK, EACH SAID RACK HAVING AN END PORTION PROJECTING FROM SAID CHANNEL IN THE DIRECTION OF SAID TRACK, A FINGER CONNECTED TO EACH OF SAID PROJECTING RACK ENDS AND ARRANGED FOR RECIPROCATION INTO AND OUT OF SAID CHANNEL TRACK, ONE OF SAID RACKS HAVING MEANS AT ITS OTHER END ENGAGEABLE FOR RECIPROCAL MOVEMENT THEREOF, AND MEANS ON THE PROJECTING END OF EACH OF SAID RACKS FOR LIMITING THE MOVEMENT THEREOF IN THE DIRECTION OF SAID PINION. 